Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
_ _ _
This invention relates to gasoline dispensing noæzles
for dispensing gasoline into vehicle fuel tanks, and more
specifically to an attitude control valve for preventing vapors
in the underground storage tanks from being displaced back
into the atmosphere in those nozzle assemblies which have
a system for receiving the vapors displaced from a vehicle
gasoline tank.
Current environmental regulations will require in
some areas that gasoline vapors displaced from a vehicle fuel tank
while being filled are to be recovered in order to prevent their
escape into the atmosphere. Many of the nozzle assemblies
designed to meet this requirement have a system for receiving
the vapors displaced from the fuel tank and storing them in
the underground hydrocarbon storage tanks.
To operate effectively, such a system should have
several qualifications. First, the noz~le should fit substantially
all the gasoline tank fillpipes for the vehicles currently in use
and have a vapor receiving apparatus which forms a tight seal
against the fillpipe so as to minimize the escape of hydrocarbons
into the atmosphere~ A second requirement is that the line from
the vapor collecting apparatus to the underground storage tanks
must have some type of control system to prevent the vapors in
the underground tanks from being displaced into the atmosphere
through the vapor receiving apparatus on the nozzle when the
underground tanks are filled. A third requirement is that an
interlock system be provided which prevents the gasoline nozzle
from operating until the seal against the fillpipe is made.
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Compliance with thesP requirements preferably should be
accomplished by a design which requires minimum assistance by the
service station operator, and also permits manual overriding of
the interlock system for use on an unusual fillpipe design which
does not permit full insertion of the dispensing nozzle. Also,
the entire nozzle design should be simple to operate, light
enough for use in self-service stations, and not require excessive
force to make the seal to the fillpipe.
One method for preventing the escape of vapors from the
underground tanks and into the atmosphere through the vapor
receiving system is to make a seal at the end of the vapor
receiving chamber which contacts the fillpipe when the nozzle is
not in use. This method usually requires the use of a strong
spring to extend the vapor receiving chamber against a ring on
the discharge spout, which in turn requires excessive force to
compress the chamber when the discharge spout is inserted into
the fillpipe. Another problem with such a system is that when
the nozzle is stored in the side of a pump, the chamber can be
pressed away from the ring and break the seal. Preferably, a
control valve should be used which will remain closed when the
nozzle is not in use and should be designed to form a tighter
seal when the pressure in the underground tanks increases.
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SUMMARY t)F THE INVENTION
Thus, in accordance with the pxesent teachings, a
liquid fuel di~pensing nozzle is provided which has a vapor
receiving system for receiving vapors displaced from a motor
vehicle fuel tank while being filled by insertion of a discharge
spout o the nozzle into the fillpipe of the fuel tank and which
has an attitude ~alve which, when in a closed position~ prevents
the flow of vapors from the storage tank through a vapor return
line and the vapor receiving system into the atmosphere when the
nozzle is not in use and placed in its rest position, and wherein
the attitude valve obtains an open position when the nozzle is in
a position for dispensing. The nozzle comprising a nozzle housing,
a discharge spout which is connected to the nozzle housing for
insertion inko a fillpipe of a fuel tank, a vapor receiving system
which surrounds the discharge spout and an attitude valve which has
a valve housing secured in a ixed relation to the nozzle and has
a movable valve member located in the valve housing. ~he valve
housing includes a first port and a second port and means for
utilizing the pressure at the first port which is greater than the
pressure at the second port during the operation of the nozzle to
maintain the movable member in its closed position wherein the
attitude va~ve is in a closed position, a valve seat is provided
within the means in fluid comm~nication with the first and second
ports, with the valve seat being located within the ~alve housing
so that when the nozzle is placed in its rest position, the movable
valve member becomes seated on the valve seat by th~ force of
gravity between the valve seat and the first port, ~Id any fluid
pressure at the first port which ~ greater than the fluid pressure
at the second port causes the movable valve member to be urged
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against the valve seat. Means are provided responsive to the
nozzle being placed in its dispensing position for receiving the
movable valve members so that the movable ~alve member is unseated
from the valve seat and fluid flow from the second port to the
first port through the valve seat may take place. Means are
present for providing fluid communication between the vapor return
line and the first pot of the attitude valve and means present for
providing fluid communication between the second port of the
attitude valve and the vapor receiving system.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, an attitude
control system for dispensing nozzle assem~lies having vapor re-
ceiving systems is provided which prevents the escape of vapors
from the underground storage tanks into the atmosphere th.rough
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the vapor receiving system when the nozzle is not in use, but
automatically opens when the nozzle is in use to permit the
vapors collected to -flow into the underground tanks. The control
system uses a control valve which remains in the closed position
when the nozzle is held or stored in the vertical position, and
opens when the nozzle is moved to the horizontal position. The
valve has two chambers connected to an outlet passage and a ball
contained therein. One chamber has a valve seat through which
vapors can flow when the valve is in its open position. When the
valve is moved through the proper arc, the ball rolls from one
chamber and seats itself against the valve seat in the second
chamber.
~ his design requires no assistance from the operator
and should be essentially maintenance free. The valve is also
designed to have the pressure from the underground tank act on
the ball to provide a tighter seal when the pressure in the
underground tank increases.
A better understanding of the invention and its advantages
can be seen in the following description of the figures and
preferred embodiments.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 is an elevational view of the dispensiny nozzle
according to this invention illustrating the external appearance
of the nozzle assembly.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the nozzle assembly of
Figure 1 shown in section.
Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse section along the
line 3-3 in Figure 2.
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Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section along the
line 4-4 in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse section along the
line 5-5 in Figure 2.
Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the
discharge spout illustrating the interlock valve in its closed
' position.
; Figure 7 is a transverse section along the line 7-7 in
Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating the
interlock valve in its open position with the magnetic disc in
contact with a fillpipe.
Figure 9 is an elevational view illustrating an
alternative embodiment of the bellows.
The vapor receiving system described herein can be used
on many of the nozzles that are commercially available today.
However, an ideal nozzle which is lightweight and particularly
adaptable to such a vapor receiving system is that shown in U.S.
Patent No. 3,734,339, by Young and is used herein in a modified
form for illustrative purposes.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the nozzle assembly has
a housing 11 with a discharge spout 12 connected thereto by
retaining nut 13. Vapor return hose 14 and the gasoline hose 15
connect to handle portion 16 of housing 11. Opration o:E the nozzle
is accomplished by squeezing lever 17 against handle 16. Guard
18 acts to protect actuating lever 17 as well as to provide a
support for holding the nozzle when it is inserted into the pump
housing for storage when no-t in use.
The components inside the nozzle include spring-loadecl
check valve 19, which serves as an anti-drain valve, and main
poppet valve 20 for controlling the flow of gasoline through the
nozzle. Rotation of oprating arm 21 on shaft 22 toward main
poppet valve 20 causes it to open. Shaft 22 is connected to
pivot shaft 23 of lever 17 through an automatic shut-off mechanism
~not shown) which prevents gasoline from being dispensed when
the liquid level in the container reaches the end of spout 12.
The shut-off mechanism can be a pressure responsive diaphragm
system, the principles of which are well known. A more detailed
explanation of the operation of this system is contained in the
above mentioned Young patent.
The vapor receiving system includes a vapor receiving
chamber which has an improved design over that disclosed in U.S.
Patent No. Re. 28,294, by ~Iansel. The vapor receiving
chamber described herein is generally denoted by the number 25
and comprises three general sections, non-flexible housing 26,
flexible bellows 27, and magnetic seal section 28. A vapor
return passageway 29 extends from non-flexible housing 26,
through nozzle housing 11 where it is connected to vapor return
line 14.
The sectional view of the nozzle assembly with the
vapor receiving system shown in Figure 2 illustrates in detail
its various components. Magnetic seal 28 includes a magnetic
disc 30 which has an opening large enough to permit spout 12 to
pass through as well as to permit the vapors from a vehicle fuel
tank to pass around spout 12 and through the opening. A soft
rubber coating 31 covers the outside lateral face of magnetic
disc 30, which contacts the fillpipe, so that a tight seal with
the fillpipe is obtained.
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Bellows 27 is designed to have sufficient stlffness -for
urging magnetic seal 28 against the fillpipe, but to be flexible
enough to permit magnetic seal 28 to bend enough so -that the
proper angle for a tight seal on any particular Eillipe can be
obtained. This balance between flexibility and stiffness is
obtained in part by having a convoluted secti,on 32 on the upper
portion and a straight section 33 on the lower portion of bellows
27. Straight section 33 of bellows 27 also permits the vapors
which might be condensed or collected within the bellows to drain
into the fillpipe through the opening in magnetic disc 30. An
additional advantage to this bellows design is that the number of
convolutions in the bellows can be minimized so that the surface
area of the bellows subject to puncturing is also minimized.
The non-flexible housing 26 includes a rigid, cyclindrical
frame 24 which can be mounted directly on nozzle housing ll
without interferring with the normal installation of spout 12.
Mounting of bellows 27 on the end of frame 24 can be accomplished
by any suitable sealing method, such as by a snap ring, which is
illustrated ln Figure 2. The use of a non-flexible housing also
helps to reduce the length of bellows required so that the
surface area of the bellows subject to puncturing is minimized.
An alternative embodiment of the bellows is illustrated
in Figure 9. In this embodiment, the convolutions in the
convoluted section 32' on the upper portion of bellows 27', extend
down to the lower portion of bellows 27' to merge into one convolution
70. This configuration permits the lower portion of bellows 27'
to fold when the lower portion of magnetic seal 28' is pushed
toward the bellows, thereby affording greater flexibility
to magnetic seal 28' while still permitting most of the
liquid gasoline trapped inside the vapor receiving chamber to
flow back into the ~illpipe.
Inside frame 24 of housing 26 is an attitude valve, 34,
(see Figure 2) formed as part of inner sleeve 35~ which is in
fluid communication with the top of the underground storge tanks
(not shown) through vapor return hose 14, vapor return passageway
29 in nozzle housing 11, and outlet passageway 36 of outer sleeve
37. Attitude valve 34 is used for preventing the vapors in the
underground storage tanks from being displaced back into the
atmosphere through vapor receiving chamber 25 when the nozzle is
not in use and stored in an upright position on the pump. Valve
34 can be constructed as part of inner sleeve 35 so that it can
be easily inserted inside frame 24 of housing 26. Inner sleeve
35 also permits the formation of an effective seal and provides
the necessary supporting structure for the valve elements.
Valve 34 is illustrated in more detail in Figures 3 and
4. The lower section of valve 34 includes two identical valve
compartments, A and B, which are located on either side of spout
12. Valve compartment A will now be described in more detail.
Compartment A has two elongated chambers 38 and 39, with the
center line of each chamber being slightly more than 90 apart or
approximately 100, preferably. Chamber 38 has an inside diameter
of sufficient size to permit ball 40 to rest inside it. Chamber
39 is open to the inside of non-flexible housing 26 and has a
valve seat formed by having a laryer diameter section which is
the same as the diameter of chamber 38 and a smaller diameter
section which is smaller than the diameter of ball 40. Preferably,
the bottom of chamber 39 intersects chamber 38 at a
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point which is approximately level with the center of ball 40
when it rests in the bottom of chamber 38, so that ball 40
immediately Ealls into chamber 39 when the valve is slanted
upwards.
When filling a tank, the vapors which are displaced
into bellows 27 flow through chamber 39 of both valve compartments
A and B, and exit vapor receiving chamber 25 through a
common outlet port in the top of frame 24 of housing ~6, vapor
return outlet passage 36 and passageway 29. It can be seen that
when the nozzle is in a horizontal position for dispensing
gasoline into a vehicle, as shown in Figure 4, ball 40 will rest
in the bottom of chamber 38, thereby permitting vapor to flow
through both compartments of valve 34. When the nozzle is
inserted into the pump for storage, ball 40 then rolls into
chamber 39 and forms a seal against the valve seat -formed in
chamber 39. Any pressure developed in the underground storage
tanks acks to force ball 40 against the valve seat to form a
better seal. Valve 34 can also have a restriction in chamber 38
above the connection with chamber 39 so that ball 40 will not
roll past chamber 39 and fail to fall into it. A peg secured in
chamber 38 or a reduction in the size of the outlet can provide
this feature.
Control valve 34 can be constructed in several ways.
One method is to machine the chambers out of a block of metal or
plastic. However, it is preferable to form the chambers out of
a vinyl material as part of a sleeve structure, since the valve
would be lighter and smaller, the cost of materials and labor
would probably be cheaper, and ease of assembly greatly enhanced.
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Most conventional gasoline nozzles use a balanced
diaphragm shut-of system which acts in response to a pressure
differen~ial produced when the fillpipe in the vehicle gasoline
tank becomes filled with gasoline. Such a system is also
included in the nozzle of the above mentioned ~oung patent.
As illustrated in the drawings, vent tube 41 travels through
discharge spout 12 ~rom opening 42 to one of the chambers on one
side of the shut-off diaphragm (not shown). This side of the
chamber is also connected to a venturi arrangement so that the
flow of gasoline creates a vacuum on this side of the diaphragm
which is relieved by having opening 42 in spout 32 open.
However, when opening 42 is closed, such as by gasoline reaching
the end of the spout, the vacuum from the venturi causes the
shut-off diaphragm to disengage lever 17 so that gasoline can
no longer be dispensed.
When using a vapor receiving system on the nozzle,
higher pressures can develop wi~hin the fillpipe which slow
down the response of the diaphragm mechanism because it takes
longer to produce the necessary vacuum. This problem is
~o recognized and a remedy therefore is disclosed and claimed
in U.S. 3,946,773 by Hansel, entitled "Automatic Dispensing
Nozzle Adapted for Vapor Recovery". According to this disclosure,
the second chamber on the other side of the shut-off diaphragm
from the venturi is connected -to the vapor receiving chamber
for use as a reference pressure instead of using atmospheric
pressure. This arranyement allows the two pressures on either
side of the diaphragm to be about the same while filling
so that a lesser amount of vacuum is needed to cause the
shut-off diaphragm system to disengage lever 17.
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Such an arrangement can be included in the nozzle
assembly disclosed and claimed herein by having a passageway
connecting the vapor return passageway 29 inside nozzle housing
11 to the chamber on the second side of the shut-off diaphragm.
One of the re~uirements of the new regulations is that
the nozzle must not be able to dispense gasoline until the seal
against the fillpipe is made by vapor receiving chamber 25. An
interlock valve system to perform this function is included in
the no7zle assembly design. While various valve designs can be
used to perform this function, the design disclosed herein is
particularly adapted for use in such an environment. Preferably,
the interlock valve should be connected to vent line 41 and
installed inside the spout so that its actuating mechanism can
remain simple in design and can be replaced without completely
disassemblying the nozzle. The interlock valve, 44, illustrated
in Figure 6 has a valve housing 45 with an inlet port 46 connected
to section 41a of vent line 41, which terminates at port
42, and an outlet port 47 connected to section 41b of vent line
41 which terminates at a diaphragm chamber in the nozzle housing
for the automatic shut-off system. The internal structure of
valve 44 has an inlet passageway 48 which leads from inlet port
46 to valve chamber 49 and an outlet passageway 50 leading from
valve chamber 49 to outlet port 47. A valve seat 51 is formed at
the entrance of outlet passageway 50 from chamber 49. A flexible
biasing diaphragm 52 is stretched across the top of valve housing
45 to cover chamber 49. A valve stem 53 is mounted to diaphragm
52 so that the valve head 54 is suspended above valve seat 51 and
the top portion, 55, of stem 53 is secured to the top of diaphragm
52. Biasing diaphragm 52 serves to bias the valve in a normally
open position as well as to seal valve housing 45. Closing of
the valve is accomplsihed by applying pressure to top portion 55
of stem 53. The design of interlock valve 44 permits it to be
constructed so that it is small enough to fit inside spout 12 and
will not appreciably affect the flow rate of the nozzle.
An interlock actuating system is provided to close
interlock valve 44 when bellows 27 is in its normal position and
to permit valve 44 to assume its normally open position when
bellows 27 is compressed (see Figures 6, 7 and 8). The actuating
system includes a slip ring 57 located next to the inside of
magnetic disc 30, a slidable collar 58 having a tapered inside
surace 59 and two actuating arms, 60 and 61, rotatably connected
at one end to slip ring 57 and at the other end to collar 58. A
spring 62 and retaining ring,.63 bias the actuating system in the
closed position, with slip ring 57 being urged against magnetic
disc 30. The length of actuating arms 60 and 61 are designed so
that collar 58 is located over interlock valve 44 when bellows 27
is fully extended, causing the tapered edge 59 of collar 58 to
press against the top portion 55 of valve stem 53, forcing valve
head 54 against valve seat 51.
With this interlock system, when contact is made by
magnetic seal 28 against the fillpipe, 5~, of a vehicle, magnetic
disc 30 will be attracted toward the fillpipe and slip ring 57
and collar 58 will be displaced a slight amount by pushing
discharge spout 12 further into the fillpipe, thereby opening
interlock valve 44 in vent tube 41. However, if magnetic seal 28
is not displaced toward the nozzle housing 11, valve 44 will
remain closed and a vacuum will be created by the venturi in the
nozzle housing when lever 17 is squeezed towards handle 16,
causing the cut-off diaphragm to disengage lever 17 and prevent
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gasoline from being dispensed. To override the interlock valve,
compression of bellows 27 is all -that is re~uired. This fact
encourages the operator to properly insert the nozzle into the
fillpipe so that he does not need to hold the nozzle, but also
allows use of the nozzle when it does not flt the particular fuel
tank.
~ latching collar 65 (see Figures 2 and 5) is mounted
on spout 12 at the location of magnetic seal 28 when bellows 27
is in its normal, relaxed position. The function of collar 65 is
to connect spout 12 to the fillpipe of a vehicle, similar to that
shown in Figure 8, so that the nozzle will remain in position
without the aid of its operator. An additional function of
collar 65 is to prevent bellows 27 from being over extended when
the nozzle is removed from the fillpipe, due to the magnetic
attrac-tion between the fillpipe and magnetic seal 28. Therefore,
collar 65 is designed to have wide side extensions, 66 and 67,
for contacting the surface of magnetic seal 28 to prevent over
extension of bellows 27, a smaller bottom extension 68 to catch
the inside of the fillpipe, and a narrow top portion 69 to permit
sufficent flow of vapor around the collar and through the
opening in magnetic disc 30, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 8.
When the nozzle is not in use it is normally placed
inside a slot (not shown) on the gasoline pump which means that
the nozzle will be sitting in a vertical position. In this
position ball 40 of attitude valve 35 will be in a closed position
so that no vapors from the underground storage tanks will be able
to flow through vapor return line 14, vapor return passageway 29,
and vapor receiving chamber 25 into the atmosphere. Once the
nozzle is removed and held in a horizontal position, balL 40
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rolls away from the valve seat and into chamber 38. This action
permits vapor to flow through valve 35. When discharge spout 12
of the nozzle is inserted into the vehicle fuel tank, the
magnetic attraction of magnetic seal 28 brings the entire section
in contact with the fillpipe opening to make a tight seal.
Depending on the angle of the particular vehicle fillpipe, the
top portion of bellows 27 will either expand or contract to help
make a tight seal at the fillplpe. Upon insertion of the spout a
few more fractions of an inch, clasping collar 65 will lodge on
the backside of the -fillpipe opening and magnetic seal 28 will be
displaced toward nozzle housing ll a sufficient distance to cause
interlock valve 44 to open so that gasoline can be dispensed into
the fillpipe. When the gasoline tank becomes filled, gasoline
will reach the end of spout 12 and cover opening 42 so that a
vacuum is created on one side of the shut-off diaphragm mechansim,
which disengages lever 17 to prevent the dispensing of more
gasoline. When the spout 12 is withdrawn from the vehicle
fillpipe, magnetic seal 28 remains against the fillpipe until
side extensions 66 and 67 of latching collar 65 contact magnetic
28 and pull it away from the fillpipe. Once the nozzle is
returned into its storage slot on the pump, attitude valve 34
moves into its closed position to again prevent the flow of vapor
from the underground storage tank into the atmosphere.
~ hile particular embodiments of this invention have been
shown and described, it is obvious that changes and modifications
can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope
of the invention. It is the intention of the appended claims
to cover all such changes and modifica-tions.
